ToL. VIII. Xo. 185. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



173 



STUDENTS' CORNER. 



JUNE, 

 1>T F<i::t.vi(.ht. 

 Seasonal Notes. 



When sugar-canes are being reajied, students sliuuld 

 note the etfect of the Jady-bird borer {.'^jienophoriis seru-ei(s). 

 and how the fibrous cocoons are formed. So far as possible 

 the life-history of this insect should be studied. Search 

 .should also be made for the root borer ( Diajtrc/ies cMrii'ia/ii-i). 

 On the leaves of the young canes, too, may be seen the cane 

 fly (Deljihar saccharivora). Students should search f<ir the 

 insect enemies of all the above pests. 



Note in detail the various operations connected with the 

 manufacture of sugar. In the factory and boiling house 

 observations should be made of the quality of the juice, and 

 where possible its analytical composition .should be studied. 

 The milling qualities of the difl'erent varieties of cane form 

 a point that should be noted by the student, and the 

 characteristics of the juice yielded by the different kind.s, as 

 regards its saccharine richnes.s, and sugar-making (pialities, 

 should also be known. 



Fields to be planted in cotton in the coming season will 

 now be ploughed or forked, and in many districts cotton will 

 be planted with the first rains in .May or June. Make 

 -a point of visiting difl'erent estates, and inspecting the 

 methods adoi^ed in preparing land for planting. Note how 

 difl'erent manures are applied, and how green dressing plants 

 are dealt with. 



In cacao districts students will note the manner of 

 ■dealing with the land under cacao trees. The months of 

 April, May, and June form a suitable period for manuring 

 ■cacao. ^Mulches of pen manure, bush, and fallen leaves 

 should be distributed around the trees to keep the ground 

 -cool in the dry sea.son, while special manures should be 

 applied when the first light rains come on. 



Look out for lime trees with yellow loaves, and try to 

 ■ascertain the cause. Observe if any insects are present, and 

 if so, what kinds. Note the condition of the subsoil, and 

 ascertain if the roots are healthy. 



In ilontserrat, and any other districts where bay trees 

 are grown, distillation of bay oil will be in jn-ogress, or be 

 completed by now. The dry months are preferred for this 

 work. 



Questions for Candidates. 



I'KELIMINAEY QUESTIONS. 



(1) What is sulphate of ammonia '?? What is nitrate of 

 soda t Of what use are these as manures ? 



(2) Describe the structure («) of a bean seed and (/>) of 

 a grain of maize. 



(3) How do you ascertain the germinating power of 

 seeds ? What percentage of germination do you e.vpect 

 a good sample of cotton seed to show .' 



I>TER.MEDIATE yUESTIOSS. 



(1) Write a brief account of the life-history of the moth 

 borer. How does this pest damage the canes, and what 

 means should the planter employ to keep it in check ( 



(2) Draw a diagram showing the principal bones in the 

 hind leg of a horse, tfigether w'ith the principal muscles and 

 their attachments. LJj-iefly explain tl'i'6 mechanism of the 

 movements of the limb. 



(3) Ascertain as far as possible the relative proportions 

 -of water lost by evaporation from soils lying fallow, and 

 "from those bearing the chief agricuUnnil crop.s. 



PRIZE-HOLDINGS COMPETITION AT 

 GRENADA. 



The Actins; Agricultural Superintendent at Grenada. 

 reports tliat adjudications hajve lately been made in the prize- 

 lioldiugs competition held in the past year in the parishes of 

 St. Patrick and St. David. Meetings were held in each 

 parish at which the prizes were distributed, and Mr. Branch 

 gave short addresses on agricultural matters. A competition 

 among small holders is also in progress in the parish of 

 St. John. 



^[r. Brancli, in his latest report, comments on the 

 improvement that took place during the season on tlie hold- 

 ings entered for the competition. This was particularly 

 jioticeable in the paiish of St. David's, where the competing 

 holdings were in es[>ecially good condition. 



At the last meeting of the Grenada Agricultural Society 

 it was proposed to approach the Governuient with a request 

 to give a grant sntticient to cover the amount re(ptired for 

 the purpose of arranging a prize-holdings competition in all 

 the parishes of the island simultaneously. 



COWPEAS IN AUSTRALIA. 



Cowpeas have been under experimental trial in 

 the Australian colony of Victoria, and the Victorian 

 ■Journal of Aqricidfan' lately contained a report; 

 on the results achieved. For green manure and for 

 fodder purposes, it is stated that the crop has provefl 

 itself of great value. The cow peas are drought-resist- 

 ing, and did fairly well in the dry season that was 

 e.\perieneed in 1907-8. When irrigation water was 

 supplied an excellent crop was produced. 



The four varieties of cowpeas under cultivation were 

 ' New Era," ' Iron,' ' Wonderful,' and ' Whip-poor- Will. ' 

 There were two kinds of seed of the ' Iron ' variety, one 

 being white and the other red. These two kinds were sown 

 separately. 



All the jieas were sown on October IS, and they 

 produced ripened seed in periods ranging from 106 to 139 

 days. The plants raised from the white seeds of the ' Iron ' 

 variety were the first to yield ripened seed, which was 

 produced at the end of 106 days. Then followed in order 

 ' New Era ' (112 days), ' Red Iron ' (115 days), ' Wonderful ' 

 (115 days), and ■ Whip- Poor-Will' (139 days). The 

 heaviest gatherings of pods were obtained during the third 

 and fourth weeks in ^farch, and the first week in April. 

 The plants were ploughed into the soil about the middle of 

 April, 



The ' AVhite Iron ' and ' Red Iron ' varieties are similar 

 in growth and yield, the plants are about 20 inches high, the 

 seeds ripen early, and |)ods are borne in succession for three 

 months or so. The pods are about 7 inches long. 



' New Era,' the .second earliest variety, is a low-gi'owing 

 slender bush with delicate foliage. The pods and seeds are 

 somewhat smaller than in the case of the ' Iron ' cowpea. 



' Wonderful ' is a cowpea. of vigorous and robust growth, 

 possessing strong branches and large leaves. The plants are 

 about 1-t inches high, and cover the ground quickly. The 

 liods,are some 8 inches in length, and contain from twelve 

 to eighteen mediunv sized peas. 



' Whip-Poor-Will ' was the variety which ripened latest 

 in these experiments. This is a plant strong in growth, with 

 an abundance of large foliage. The plants grew to a height 

 of 18 inches, with numerous and spreading branches. The 

 pods are fle.shy, about 9 inches long, and contain a good 

 number of large peas. 



